Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Last updated
Tue 22nd Sep 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and strong winds soon clears east from Scotland, but lasts a few hours over northern England and Wales in the morning with some heavier bursts. A marked improvement follows as cloud lifts and breaks up. A few showers continue near west coasts of Scotland. Feeling rather chilly in a fresh breeze.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Early rain, improving to sun and clear hills, chilly breeze.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 15 to 25mph, strongest on higher terrain; some variability around dawn-early morning, briefly with gusts over 40mph possible. Dropping to very little wind onward into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over high Cairngorms, fairly small most other areas, but feeling chilly in exposure. Briefly poorer conditions at first soon moderate.
How Wet?
Early rain, then largely dry
Overnight rain continues for a few hours of rain from dawn, heavy for a time at first, but this soon passing east to become quickly dry, rare if any brief showers mainly northern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Starts fairly extensive, little afternoon
Fairly extensive just around dawn if rain lingers; as rain clears, cloud will break into varied banks, mostly high terrain (a few ragged low patches briefly), but ultimately clearing for mostly cloud-free hills. A few passing banks on high west terrain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%; may start at 20% for a few hours
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy just at dawn, but soon becoming mostly sunny. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C. Feeling below 0C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 24th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 22nd Sep 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-25mph, strengthening, to sustained 50mph+ over high Cairngorms, powerful gusts over tops and downslope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly challenging, gusts necessitate great effort to remain upright. Feeling chilly despite mild temperature.
How Wet?
Little until late
A little patchy rain around the midday hours, but otherwise dry. Later, patchy rain approaches Drumochter and Monadhliath, spreading widely from dusk onward, though small amounts north/east.
Cloud on the hills?
Little until later
Occasional cloud banks on high southern slopes, rolling over tops, but more often clear well into the day. Cloud will begin to more extensively shroud tops through afternoon, progressively lowering on southern slopes; north Cairngorms stay clear well into the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, lowering to 30% later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun through high cloud, tending to cloud over as afternoon goes. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C, or 10C north Cairngorms, staying elevated into night. Feeling like -1 to -3C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 25th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 22nd Sep 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30 to 40mph, in places 50mph over higher Cairngorms plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions on high terrain, more arduous in places with frequent buffeting; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain now and again
Occasional showery rain coming in from the southwest, but often dry much of the region, particularly further north and east.
Cloud on the hills?
Sometimes capping tops
Some cloud likely to come and go above 1000-1100m, occasionally 900m toward Drumochter, but good breaks above many tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, best toward Glenmore and Deeside. Visibility very good, reduced briefly in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, little change all day. Feeling like -3 to -6C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Southwesterly winds increase again on Thursday and rain later moves into western Scotland, but elsewhere is likely dry, bright in Wales and much of England. A variable outlook continues into the weekend and beyond with high pressure building from the south at times with fairly warm and dry conditions, but Atlantic systems still pass to the north bringing occasional rain and showers toward western Scotland at least, strong wind here with sustained gales in the north. Next week remains on the unsettled side: west-southwesterly wind with bands of rain passing over most mountains, but a trend towards higher pressure brings longer settled windows into October.